Week 4: May 30-June 3, 2015

Crew 2: Highcock Knob Relocation in Central Virginia

From Assistant Crew Leader Davis Wax:

Week Four of Konnarock saw Crew 2 working in the James River Face Wilderness of Virginia for its second time this season.



Continuing to relocate the A.T. near Highcock Knob, the crew worked on a large rock crib wall -- over 60 cubic feet (!) -- to get around a bluff where the newly dug tread had hit outsloping bedrock during week two.



The crib wall called for lots of rock-moving and crush-making which the crew jumped to do enthusiastically.


The volunteers also dug new trail and set a few rock steps for the tie-in areas on either end of the 450-foot-long relocation so each section would blend in seamlessly with the current trail.


Throughout the week, the Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club supported the crew with a great hand of help. The club helped dig new trail, move large rocks for the crib wall, crush rock for fill, and helped close out the old trail by crosscutting logs for check dams -- cut logs laid in the trail to slow down water erosion and prevent sediment displacement.

The club also provided a potluck barbecue dinner for the crew on their second day of work. Thanks goes out to Natural Bridge for their aid to Konnarock this week -- it was much appreciated!


When the crew wasn't working in the James River Face they were camping at Cave Mountain Lake Campground where they played camp games, swam in the campground lake, cooked up pancakes, and enjoyed the camaraderie of NBATC member Doug DeJarnette who camped with the crew all week and provided a cooler of cold drinks every day.

Once the major work on the crib wall was done, the crew closed down the old piece of steep trail.They placed brush in the old tread and set check dams and transplanted bushes and small trees to help the old, eroded trail recover. The crew also got to paint new white blazes on the new trail thanks to aid and instruction from NBATC member Trudy Philips.




Konnarock had a blast helping out Natural Bridge ATC with this relocation project, and looks forward to beginning a new relocation in the James River Face later in July of this year!

The crew also got extra help from Tye River Ridgerunner Regina Reiter and ATC Regional Director Andrew Downs! They each joned the crew for one day of work -- Andy helped with the crib wall and Regina helped decommission the old trail by brushing it in and placing check dams.

For more photos from Week 4 Crew 2, visit https://flic.kr/s/aHskdkZsj3

Crew 1: Backbone Rock Relocation in Tennessee

From Assistant Crew Leader Sarah Ford:
Crew 2 wrapped up the first month of Konnarock right near Damascus, Virginia at Backbone Rock.




Ten enthusiastic volunteers ventured out into the field to see what it was like to work on building a brand new section of trail.




During the week, we had great turnout from local members of the Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club (TEHCC). TEHCC proudly maintains 127 miles of the A.T., right up to the Virginia-Tennessee border which was not far from where we were working.

With the help of the local TEHCC members, the Konnarock Crew constructed 990 feet of new sidehill trail!




The new section includes two sets of beautiful locust log staircases which were necessary because of the steepness of the trail. Without the staircases, over time the steep spots would become eroded.




The last night of the crew week, the Trail Club provided a homemade dinner of pulled pork, coleslaw, and banana pudding.


Thanks TEHCC, and thanks to all the great Konnarock volunteers of Week 4!





For more photos from Week 4 Crew 1, visit https://flic.kr/s/aHskfXmFpp